James 1:19-27

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:19-27).

1. A Letter to those who can’t change their lives

Last Sunday, we learned the importance of acting as christians. Our faith in God’s salvation should push us to conduct ourselves according to Jesus’ teaching. Even if our efforts are recompensed in this world, we won’t loose our faith, because it will be appreciated by God.
James exalts this attitude in other ways and words in his letter which we will study today: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1: 22 ). The author of the letter, James, was a brother (or a cousin) of the Lord Jesus. He previously did not believe that Jesus was the Christ at first, but after he witnessed the Resurrection he became a believer and a leader in the Church of Jerusalem.
Under the leadership of James, Jesus’ teaching was widespread, giving birth to new churches in Judea, Syria and Samaria. But as time passed, and after Jesus’ death, his messages were passed-on incorrectly, and some were taken out of context. So much so, that even the Churches were involved in conflict, largely generated by desire, envy, arrogance, etc. James wrote this letter to expose the tendency toward hypocritical practices, and to teach about christian behaviour.
James was seriously concerned about the real life split between faith and conduct, and with people who could not change their life, just by saying they have faith. These verses from james further enhance our thoughts on this matter: My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4).
James, attacks any form of partiality shown toward the rich. Arrogance and self-confidence can separate the rich from God, and lead to callous injustice. He emphasizes the need for a faith which results in charity toward the poor.

2. Faith without action is in vain

James challenges the attitude of believers who can’t take action according to Jesus’ teaching: “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does¡É (James 1:8). And further,he says: ¡ÈMy dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry¡É (1:19).
Perhaps troubles occurred in the Church because of people who could not control themselves, or because of those who spoke out of turn. I presume there were cases where Pastors’ or church members’ became insensitive to others, making it difficult for them to attend the Sunday Service.
It happens sometimes, or rather it happens quite often in today’s Church. This kind of conflict comes from people who possess an immature faith, and who are unable to change their conduct. In order to avoid this insensitivity, we must try and listen to others’ words, and put ourselves in the place of others. Have empathy with others, and do not interrupt their conversation, and their thinking. Be a good listener. Even though we seek to care for the feelings of others, they might easily become angry and leave the Church. We must always be slow to become angry.
James said that human anger doesn’t realize God’s righteousness, and Jesus went on to say: “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39).
When we act like this with our enemies, it must be more natural to do so with Church members, our brothers and sisters. God’s words are planted in our heart. But, when we begin to act wrong, or our thinking becomes corrupted , then, we need to banish these thoughts from our mind. When God’s words reign we must act loyally to them. We might attend the Sunday Services, but, without acts, our devotion is worthless, and salvation will not follow. We are assembled in the Church to calm our soul, in order to act-out our faith in other places as a witness to God’s saving grace.

3. The Challenge of Faith

We chose Matthew, 10 - 39, as today’s verse of invocation, and here, Jesus says: ¡ÈWhoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it¡É.Strange verse. Everybody looks to one’s life and happiness. Happiness is to eat enough, to live easily, to be secure from illness or disaster. So why did Jesus say that? Because we don’t live by ourselves, but we are made living by God who showed His Will through the Cross of Jesus. God saved us through His own death - through God the Son.
Jesus tells us: “and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).
The letter from James continues to develop the same theme:
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do (James 2:14-18).
And note here, how he insisted on this: ¡ÈShow me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do¡É (James 2:18)
This verse made me think about the Swiss Parliament’s decision in 1942. They voted to return Jewish refugees back to the Nazi concentration camps, even knowing the Jews would be killed there. At that time a famous Swiss minister, Walter Lüthi accused the government of committing triple sins: lack of love, hypocrisy and violation of Jesus’ teachings.
Now in 2007, in Japan, we are taking a similar course of action and attitude with the African and Asian refugees, by refusing to accept them. I looked for information about this issue on web and found only two japanese christian organizations which are making an effort to contradict this policy: the Catholic and the Episcopal Churches.
Regarding this matter, James might say to us: If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2-16). God tells us to take care of those who are suffering in poverty and pain, because it is our responsibility as christians. A living faith cannot exist without works, such as hospitality and love.
The concise summary of the letter from James is very revealing: If our life doesn’t change when we say, we have been made right with God, or that we have been saved - our faith is dead, and we are unable to save anyone!

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